County Council Criticised for Lack of Action on Accident Black Spot

8.04.00pm GMT Sun 2nd Nov 2008

One of the expensive electronic signs which has not worked for months

Lib Dem Surrey Heath Council Group Leader David Whitcroft has reacted angrily to what he says is a lack of action on a road near his ward on which there have been two fatal accidents and further serious incidents in recent months.

Mytchett Place Road is a winding road across army ranges connecting Mytchett with Pirbright and Brookwood. During the summer a car hit a tree and a motorcycle hit another car in separate incidents on the road. The car driver and pillion passenger on the motorcycle were both killed whilst the bike rider suffered serious head injuries. In September a further serious accident took place only yards from the previous incidents.

"There is a lot of local concern in the area about these incidents," said Cllr Whitcroft, "and I contacted the Head of Surrey Highways in early October following a meeting I had with the Police to discuss the issue. Apart from an acknowledgement of my message, I have heard nothing more from the County Council. They are always saying that they deal with accident Black Spots as a priority but no action has been taken in this instance when people have been killed and seriously injured."

David Whitcroft is critical of the condition of the road and of the speeds that some drivers use on the stretch of road.

"Speeding is a clear problem but many of the warning signs on the road have gone missing, the two electronic warning signals put in by the County Council many months ago do not work and the road surface near where two of the accidents took place is very worn." he said.

Cllr Whitcroft is concerned that other incidents may take place along the stretch or road.

"Winter is coming and road conditions will worsen, especially where the road surface is worn," he said. "How many more people are going to be killed or injured before the County Council takes some action?" he asked.

Local Frimley Green & Mytchett Tory County Councillor Chris Pitt, when asked for a view by the Camberley News, denied there was a problem. He claimed that David Whitcroft was 'trying to make headlines' and that Mytchett Place Road was in good condition.

Cllr Whitcroft responded "If Surrey County Council Officers, operating under the current complacent administration, answered reasonable queries (which Mr Pitt was aware of since he received copies of them in early October) in good time instead of ignoring them, maybe it would not be necessary to seek action through publicity."

The road surface that County Councillor Pitt says is not worn!

He concluded, "In suggesting, too, that Mytchett Place road is in good condition, Mr Pitt is simply being disingenuous, as photographs of the road clearly show and as confirmed by Surrey police officers.

Instead of shouting about other people trying to make headlines, perhaps Mr Pitt should be seeking positive, immediate action to correct an obvious problem that only the most closed minded person would seek to deny."